CVE-2023-54036

Service interruption via unfreed C2H message buffers

Published Dec 24, 2025 · Updated Dec 24, 2025

Memory leak in the Linux rtl8xxxu Wi-Fi driver allows attackers to exhaust kernel memory through frequent C2H messages. rtl8xxxu_c2hcmd_callback() frees only one dequeued skb after its loop on RTL8723BU, while RTL8192EU messages remain queued because an rf_paths check skips processing. Exposure requires an affected Realtek adapter; frequent C2H traffic, especially with Bluetooth audio on RTL8723BU, steadily consumes kernel memory and can interrupt service.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.18%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory leak in the Linux rtl8xxxu Wi-Fi driver allows attackers to exhaust kernel memory through frequent C2H messages. rtl8xxxu_c2hcmd_callback() frees only one dequeued skb after its loop on RTL8723BU, while RTL8192EU messages remain queued because an rf_paths check skips processing. Exposure requires an affected Realtek adapter; frequent C2H traffic, especially with Bluetooth audio on RTL8723BU, steadily consumes kernel memory and can interrupt service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-54036
Published
Dec 24, 2025
Updated
Dec 24, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499
Attack vector
Unavailable
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 24, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 24, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=5.5
  2. Affected versionversion=e542e66b7c2ee2adeefdbb7f259f2f60cadf2819 <35fb0e275af1aa1ca0a9784417e90f988aaf8e78
  3. Affected versionversion=e542e66b7c2ee2adeefdbb7f259f2f60cadf2819 <430f9f9bec53a75f9ccc53e156a66f13fc098b83
  4. Affected versionversion=e542e66b7c2ee2adeefdbb7f259f2f60cadf2819 <93c3f34ec02fc81188d328287d4fddd498ccddea
  5. Affected versionversion=e542e66b7c2ee2adeefdbb7f259f2f60cadf2819 <b39f662ce1648db0b9de32e6a849b098480793cb
  6. Affected versionversion=e542e66b7c2ee2adeefdbb7f259f2f60cadf2819 <f39a86b4efd270947ee252cc32a30b0aef492d65

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorUnavailable in this record.
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.5; version=e542e66b7c2ee2adeefdbb7f259f2f60cadf2819 <35fb0e275af1aa1ca0a9784417e90f988aaf8e78; version=e542e66b7c2ee2adeefdbb7f259f2f60cadf2819 <430f9f9bec53a75f9ccc53e156a66f13fc098b83; version=e542e66b7c2ee2adeefdbb7f259f2f60cadf2819 <93c3f34ec02fc81188d328287d4fddd498ccddea; version=e542e66b7c2ee2adeefdbb7f259f2f60cadf2819 <b39f662ce1648db0b9de32e6a849b098480793cb; version=e542e66b7c2ee2adeefdbb7f259f2f60cadf2819 <f39a86b4efd270947ee252cc32a30b0aef492d65

Published CVSS scores

No CVSS assessment is available in this record.

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
VectorUnavailable
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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